Performance Audit and Sunset Review: Arizona Board of Executive Clemency

The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency is responsible for granting parole to eligible inmates, revoking the parole/community supervision of violators, and recommending clemency actions to the Governor. In calendar year 2013, the Board made 317 parole decisions, 1,840 revocation decisions, and 55 clemency-sentence commutation, pardon, and reprieve decisions. We identified four areas where the Board can improve its operations. First, although the Board has strengthened its policies to help ensure that board members are free from conflicts of interest, additional steps are needed. Second, the Board should continue its efforts to develop a formalized, structured decision-making process so that its decisions are objective, consistent, and transparent. Third, the Board should continue its current efforts to better meet revocation hearing timeliness goals and victim notification requirements. Finally, the Board should develop and implement a transition plan to separate its board chair and executive director positions.